Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2012 is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series, with more than 240 events around the UK from May to the end of September.

- Women and girls of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes from all over the UK join together to walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat more than 200 types of cancer affecting men, women and children.

All women are welcome, regardless of whether they are taking part on their own or as part of a group.

- This year it will be even easier to take part and raise money as a group, with the introduction of a simple to use online group entry process.

- In 2012, Cancer Research UK hopes to recruit 625,000 women and raise £55m to help fund lifesaving work.

- Women will have the opportunity to take part in the traditional 5k or opt for a 10k route, without having to pay an additional entry fee, at 35 venues across the UK.

- The entry fee covers the costs of staging the event series and means that money raised in sponsorship can go to help beat cancer.

- Race for Life started as one event in 1994 at Battersea Park with 680 participants. In 2012 it is celebrating its 18th birthday.

- Since Race for Life started, an incredible six million participants across the UK have raised over £457m to fund Cancer Research UK’s vital work.